DECA students compete, advance to final round in state competition

After a long pause of in-person conferences due to the pandemic, Burnsville High School DECA was thrilled to compete at the State Career Development Conference on March 6-8 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis.

Eleven students participated in the competition, and six students made it into the final round. 

The following students received recognition at the conference:

• Jacob Westerlund placed 8th in Hotel and Lodging Management
• Kira Theng placed 10th in Sales Demonstration
• Ryan Brown placed 12th in Hotel and Lodging Management

"The students were able to apply the knowledge they have gained in the classroom to real-life experiences with judges from many different industries,” said Chris Lunde, Burnsville High School DECA advisor. “Some students were shocked that they made finals, but given the numerous prep sessions we held with them and the coaching we provided, I wasn't surprised. I couldn't be more proud of the students that we took to the state conference as they are all incredible students with great potential ahead of them! They were all able to immediately bond together as a team and frequently would spend time as a group, which speaks to the deep teamwork and passion these students possess." 

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. During the school year, approximately 3,500 students across Minnesota take part in the organization’s competitive events program. The competitions are designed to simulate real-life business scenarios and test students’ academic understanding and skills development. 

Learn more about DECA at www.mndeca.org.